to take my baby to the hairdressers?

[lilbitneurotic]

I desperately need my hair cut and coloured and managed to get an appointment for tomorrow, however I have no childcare. I was hoping to take my DS with me, he is 7 months and the appointment should last 2 hours. In an ideal world he would sleep in his carseat for the duration but probably when I need him to he wont.

Do people take their babies with them or is this a ridiculous idea?

[whatsoever]

I had my hair done last week. I was there 3.5 hours to have a cut & blow and highlights (my hairdresser was very busy so quite a bit of waiting around while she saw to other people). I was boiling & quite bored at times, a 7 month old would be soooo bored, I would imagine.

However, some 7 month olds are remarkably placid & wouldn't mind it at all.

[PoppyWearer]

I did it when DD was tiny. She slept for most of the time (was a good few hours, foils and colour), woke and had a breastfeed under the gown, then the manager happily changed her nappy for me (I was going to do it, she offered, did it in my sight).

I did go mid-week, it was a quiet day, and a salon I'd been going to for ages. Also checked with them in advance. They were thrilled to have DD there, everyone cooed over her thank feck she slept for once.

Have since moved house and my new salon has a strict "no children" rule, so have been going longer without hair colours/cuts, but muddling along.

[Ephiny]

I think it would be less annoying than the toddler who run around and get in everyone's way. Crying could be an issue though. Mobile hairdresser is a good suggestion - personally I wouldn't be brave enough to do the MN haircut myself...

[PooPooInMyToes]

Fatlazymummy mine was a screamer. She didn't scream every minute of every day, but would be much more likely to than other babies. That it was is meant by a baby that screams all the time . . . just screams a hell of a lot and is much more prone to it. I don't actually think its possible to scream constantly as when would they sleep!

[PineappleBed]

Make sure your DS isnt scared of hairdryers first! I'd ring the salon and see what they say. If it's a slow day maybe the other stylists/trainees will enjoy fussing him. But if it's busy might be harder.

[vess]

Can't you get the cut on one day and the colouring on another?

[NigellaTufnel]

OP - you sounds remarkable reasonable for someone I think is BU! And I think the mobile hairdresser is a good idea. Or a family friendly salon would be great.

I don't equate babies with screaming, not do I think that a hairdressers is a spa, but I do think that if someone brings their child into a hairdressers and gets a colour done - so they are in effect stuck there for a couple of hours, at least - is being a little bit thoughtless.
If the child is asleep, or happy, then of course there is no problem, but you have no way of knowing that it will be a good day. Even the most perfect children can have a grizzly day. If it is a salon that is geared towards children, then again, I have no problem, but if it is a 'grown up' salon I think that is another issue.

Just as a mother may pay £££ for a cut and colour and therefore thinks she can do this, I also pay £££ and do not want to listen to a child grizzling for hours. It would not be so bad now, but when my dcs were younger a haircut was the only time in months that I got a break.

[Icelollycraving]

Sorry you've cancelled. Perhaps if you asked nicely,they would have said it was fine. That seems a shame.
My hairdresser is always nagging me to bring in my baby,she is permanently broody though! I hadn't until last week. They were correcting a colour I was unhappy with. I have to admit I was very nervous that he'd cry,be miserable etc. He was an absolute angel though,I went first thing & I think all the cooing exhausted him as he slept for about an hour. I was there for 3 hours & had a pedicure too!
I only took him because they knew if I came in the week,I have no childcare. I tipped everyone,including the junior who pushed him round the salon when my hair was being washed& was extra smiley. I wouldn't have dreamt of taking him any other time. The people saying that they wouldn't want a baby there,I do understand that completely. The people who said they pay so they don't care what the hairdressers think are quite rude IMO if you don't consider other people.

[fatlazymummy]

poopoo no I didn't, and neither has anyone else that I know, and neither do any of the babies that I see out and about. I think babies that scream all the time are the exception rather than the rule. Which is why it would't bother me if I was in the hairdressers and someone else brought a baby in with them.

[stressheaderic]

My friend takes her 2 year old when she has her hair coloured. She says 'she loves it, she wanders round, brushing up and playing with the brushes etc'.
I'm sure the hairdresser doesn't share that opinion

I had to switch to a mobile hairdresser once DC came along (it's cheaper too).

[PooPooInMyToes]

I wouldn't like to have a baby in the hairdressers breathing in the fumes!

[Spuddybean]

fatlaz i don't equate all babies with screaming, just the one that was actually screaming while i was in the hairdressers. I'm not being anti baby, i am just saying this may not be the best place for one. It's not fair on the baby or the others around if it gets distressed and cannot be calmed.

[PooPooInMyToes]

Maybe that's because you've never had a baby that screamed all the time.

[fatlazymummy]

I took my babies to the hairdressers a few times [though not for colouring], they either slept in their buggies or sat on my lap. No screaming. I have seen other people do the same thing, I have never seen why it would be a problem.
There again, I don't equate 'baby' with 'screaming' as some people seem to do.

[bringmesunshine2009]

Tried it once. Disaster. It's as if he knew I was having 30 mins to myself.

[BearlyThere]

I fucking mind

[Spuddybean]

i suppose it depends on the salon then Osmionica. The lady i saw in foils had 2 staff putting the foils in so couldn't move. when the child was put on her lap it was trying to pull at them so she put it on the ground on a blanket but it cried and cried.

And no it isn't a spa, but it still is a treat when you save up and go and spend over £100 on a do, and want to have a chat and a glass of wine and there is a baby screaming. To a lot of people that is their only child free 'adult' time. I just don't think it's fair if it's not a family-ish salon.

[er1507]

OP dont cancell! U deserve to get your hair done! I'm a hairdresser and don't mind if the babies come, most are usually too interested in what's going on to cry! I would ask the salon when their quietest time was to go only because if your ds does need feeding/changing or something then it's not going to run over your appointment time, mainly for the colour application. Also ask them for a towel to put around him if he's gonna be sat on your lap just in case he gets splashed with a bit of tint!

People with attitudes like nigellas really grate on me! Its a hair salon not a spa!

[Spuddybean]

You may not be planning to pass him round OP but other customers can hear him cry. I went to the hairdressers a while back and someone came in and did as you were planning to do. The baby screamed the place down. She had foils all over her head and couldn't move, so the baby just cried and cried.

The other hairdressers were trying to distract it and it really ruined what i look forward to as a relaxing treat.

Sorry to sound grumpy but it isn't fair on everyone else.

[wheresthepopcorn]

It would depend on how busy the salon is. I certainly understand the desire to go during the week as it's much cheaper. I am assuming that if it was a weekday it would be relatively quiet - how active is your baby? I know mine doesn't sit still for a moment so salons are out.

[maswera]

Blimey - DS is 14 months & I've taken him to the hairdressers every time I've been. Never thought twice about it and he's always been fine. Certainly wouldn't have asked the hairdressers when I'm paying them!

[AuntLucyInPeru]

I did it whilst they were babies (under 6 months). Couldn't give a stuff what they thought given than I didn't have alternative care and I was paying xxxxx for their time.